Work transferring device for knitting machines



Fb. 8, 1938. c'. A. RIGGS ET AL.

WORK TRANSFERRING DEVICE FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 16, 1936 Fig; 5

'15 chine having only cylinder needles.

Patented Feb. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WORK TRANSFERRING DEVICE FOR- KNIT- 'TING MACHINES Clyde 'Alvin Riggs and Trester Byron Farmer, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Application March 16,-1936, Serial No. 69,064

., g 6 Claims.

This invention relates to knitting machines, and more particularly to the type known as"circular knitting machines, and is concerned more specifically with an impaling point to facilitate 5 the transfer of a portion of a stocking knit on one machine to the needles of another knitting machine whereby knitting may be continued on the latter. I 7

, The present practice in knitting hosiery, as for 0 example, that having 'a plain knit' body portion and a rib knit welt ortop, is to knit therib portion on a machine having dial and cylinder needles and adapted to'knit only ribbed fabric, and to' transfer the rib portion to a plain knitting ma- In order to simplify and facilitate the transfer of the rib knit portion to the needles of the machine for knitting the plain fabric, a; so-called transfer ring is-used in the'following manner: The portion of rib fabric/is manually placed 7 over a plurality of impaling points mounted circumferentially on an annulus of a well known type, commonly termed'a transfer or quill ring, each loop of a selected knitted course of the fabric engaging a single point or quill. This ring with its engaged fabric portion is then placed in juxtaposition with the cylinder needles of the 'plain knitting machine in such manner that the back of the hooks of the cylinder needles meet the impaling points, and the rib fabric is with- Impaling points now used consist substantially of a needle-like member having an axial channel into which the back of the hook of the cylinder needle enters to facilitate transfer, the axial groove facing outwardly of the ring, and each point taperingfrom a point to a shank mounted in the ring;

An impaling ring so constructed works satisfactorily if the ribbed fabric is knitted of plain yarn having relatively little elasticity. However,

with the recent advent of hosiery having rubber elastic yarns incorporated therein, the present transfer point, due to its necessary taper, combined with the natural contraction in the fabric caused by the elastic yarn, permits the fabric once placed thereover to slip off. In other words,

the fabric in seeking to constrict itself to a smaller diameter, slides upon the points and comes off, thereby seriously interfering with the transfer operation. 7

The primary object of our invention is to provide an improved impaling point having a depression formed in its outer face and arranged to engage the loops of the impaled fabric to prevent it from sliding off. A further object is to,

provide such an improved impaling point which 5 may be manufactured cheaply and may be used with any type of fabric (including those containing elastic yarns) ordinarily transferred with the aid of a'quill ring or similar transferring device. 7 We are aware of the United States Patent to 10 George'B. Mayo, Serial Number 453,494, granted June 2, 1891, where an impaling point is disclosed to accomplish somewhat the same object as our invention. However, in practice the Mayo point is unsatisfactory for reasons which will appear 1 hereinafter.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows a greatly magnified side View of the impaling point constituting our invention,

Figure 2 shows a greatly magnified front view of the impaling point,

Figure 3 is a greatly magnified end view of the impaling point,

Figure 4 is a View in cross sectional elevation of a quill ring embodying the point constituting our invention,

Figure 5 is a view of Figure 4 taken on the line 5-5 and showing, for simplicity, only onehalf of the quill ring,

Figure 6 shows the impaling point in relation iig to its engaged fabric loop prior to the transfer operation,

Figure '7 shows the top of a cylinder needle in relation to the impaling point, and a loop of the fabric in position on the needle preparatory 3 to removing the ring, and

Figure 8 depicts an alternative form of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 3, it will be seen that we prefer to make our impaling point I of 40 a flat piece of metal bent into a U-shape, thereby yielding an axial channel 2, although the invention is not limited to an impaling point constructed in this manner, it being understood from the following description that the essence of the 45 invention is applicable to an impaling point formed of solid wire or any other preferred construction.

The general contour of the point is tapered from its active end 3, to the butt 4, and prefer-- 5o ably with a slight convex curvature to facilitate the placing of the loop of the fabric thereover.

In the outer surface we provide a channel 5 substantially as shown and of somewhat rectangular outline. However, the side 6 of the notch nearest 55 the point 3 is preferably cut to substantially a right angle, but may be slightly more or less than a right angle, without impairing the function of the device to form what may be termed a barb or hook in the impaling point as; shown, and the overall length of the channel 5 is such that during the transfer operation the fabric is free to slide back on the points (toward the butt end) by the'pr'essure of the cylinder needles to enter the'chann'el 2. (See Figure '7.) The depth of the channel 5 is sufficient to provide an effective barb as described, to prevent the fabric'from slipping off prior to, andduring the transfer operation, but not so deep that thefabricmaynot be easily withdrawn from the points by the needle hooks, as clearly shown in Figures 6 and '7.

In Figure 8 we have shown a possible modified embodiment of the invention. It willbe noted that this construction is equivalent in operation to the principal form of the invention heretofore described. vIt will be obvious from this figure that instead of providing a substantially rectanacteristic.

gular channel in the side of the point, it is of a modified V-shape, the short side of the V constituting the barb which prevents the fabric loops from slipping, off the points,and the'long side of the V providing the backward relief to permit the loops to be slid back upon the points. I

Although the invention is principallyapplicable to the transferring of fabrics havingsubstantial elasticity, it will be readily seen that it is equally adaptable tofabrics not having this cha r- It will also be obvious from the foregoing that departuresmay be made in the construction of our impaling point without departing from the spirit of the invention. a a 1 To derive the proper benefit of theinventionit is not essential that every point in the ring be provided with-thenotch 5, it being obvious that every other point, or every third point, for example, may have the notch 5, and the remaining points standard, 1. e., without the notch,

In conclusion, although the description above is limited to a transfer operation as effected-on a circular knitting machine, we wish to point out that our improved impaling point may be used with equal advantage for devices employed in a circular knitting machine having an incut of relatively greater width than depth to engage a loop of the fabric therein, whereby to permit said loop to move lengthwise of the point during the transfer operation.

2. A circular quill ring for transferring knitted fabric to the needles of a circular knitting machine having a series of impaling points, said points having an incut of relatively greater width than depth to engage the loops of the fabric therein, whereby to permit the said loops to move lengthwise of the points during the transfer operation.

' 3. An impaling point for a circular quill ring for transferring knitted fabric to the needles of a circular knitting machine comprising a member of U-shaped cross-section having an incut of relatively greater width than depth in the sides of said U-section to engage a loop of the fabric therein, whereby to permit said loop'to move lengthwise of the point during the transfer operation.

mit the said loops to move lengthwise OfthGr' points during the transfer operation, the sides of said U-section projecting outwardlyof said ring. 5. An impaling point for a circular quillring .for transferring knitted fabric to the needles of a circular knitting machine comprising a members of U-shaped cross-section, the sides of said U- section tapering to merge with the base thereof, and an incut of relatively greater width than depth in the tapering sides of said U-section to engage a'loop of the fabric therein, whereby to permit said loop to move lengthwise of the'point' during the transfer operation.

6. A circular quill ring for transferring knitted fabric to the needles of a circular knitting machine having a series of impaling points, said,

points comprising members of U-shaped cross greater width than depth in the tapering sides of said U-section to engage loops of the fabric therein, whereby to permit the said loops to move lengthwise of the points during the transfer operation.

CLYDE ALVIN RIGGS. TRESTER BYRON FARMER. 

